Preece Family Tree

A GOLDEN WEDDING.

Gumeracha, October 3

On Thursday, September 29, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Hannaford, of Hatchland, near Gumeracha, celebrated their golden wedding. It is nearly 52 years since they were married, but not till last week had it been convenient for the family to assemble for the purpose of celebrating the event. There were present all the sons, five of whom reside in the colony and one in Queensland, and their wives, and the only daughter now living, Mrs. R. Rowe, and her husband from Victoria, also 34 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. A photographer from Adelaide took several views of the party. Mr. and Mrs. Hannaford are colonists of 58 years, having arrived here in 1840, Mr. (afterwards Sir R R.) Torrens, the author of the Real Property Act, being a shipmate of theirs. Fifty years of their life has been spent where they now reside. Mr. Hannaford and another gentleman built the first wheat stack in the colony, and he was in charge of the first mob of cattle depastured on the shores of the lakes. It needed real courage to undertake such a charge, for he and his brother were camped there alone, no other white man being within 20 miles, and surrounded by a numerous and powerful tribe of natives who had previously murdered the whole crew of a steamboat that had been wrecked at the Murray mouth. Mr. Hannaford was the first grower of winter apples in quantities in this locality. Mr. and Mrs. Hannaford, although several years past the allotted span of life, are still vigorous and hearty, and they are enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life.